“If you are allowed to receive feedback, you must also be able to give it.”
Richard ten Katen, Functional Consultant at Bluace
Richard has experienced many different professional worlds throughout his career. After studying Business Information Systems, he started in the hospitality and events industry, working his way up from service staff to partner at an international hospitality project agency. With offices in several countries, the organization supplied hospitality staff for major events such as World Cups and races. “Work and private life completely blurred back then,” Richard explains. “Working seven days a week and getting four hours of sleep a night was the rule rather than the exception.” During that time, he discovered the importance of structure, oversight, and collaboration within an organization. After years in the events industry, he switched to business consultancy, focusing on change management, process optimization, and the intersection of business and IT. He eventually came into contact with Bluace through Ronald Evers. “My first impression of Mark was immediate and clear,” says Richard. “An entrepreneur with a wealth of ideas and energy, but also someone who could use some structure in his organization.” That was precisely what appealed to him. “I enjoy working in smaller organizations where you can really build something together.” Richard was born in The Hague and grew up in Apeldoorn, where he now lives again with his wife, Sandra. In his spare time, he has practiced aikido for years and has achieved his second-degree black belt (nidan). He has also been a member of the Confrérie du Sabre d’Or for over twenty years—a brotherhood dedicated to the tradition of opening champagne bottles with a saber. “A great, legitimate way to celebrate in style now and then,” he says with a wink.
At Bluace, Richard focuses primarily on business consultancy, client engagements, and change management. He guides organizations through implementations and helps design smarter, more efficient processes. In doing so, he looks beyond the systems themselves to the people and processes surrounding them. “A lot of knowledge still resides in people’s heads,” he explains. “That works as long as an organization remains small, but if you want to grow, you need to organize your processes more smartly.” What immediately appealed to Richard about Bluace was its open and informal culture. “It’s down-to-earth and direct, with plenty of room for humor,” he says. “If you’re open to receiving feedback, you have to be able to give it, too.” That specific combination of entrepreneurship, freedom, and collaboration suits him well. At the same time, he sees significant opportunities to further professionalize the organization, particularly regarding structure and project management.
Looking to the future, Richard wants to contribute to Bluace’s continued growth without losing its personal character. “It doesn’t have to be perfect,” he says. “But when something works, and people see the benefits, momentum builds naturally.”
Are you indispensable to the Bluace team?
At Bluace, we recognize talent. Are you convinced you would be an indispensable addition to our team, even though the position you are seeking isn’t currently listed among our vacancies? We are always open to hearing from enthusiastic professionals who believe they can make a valuable contribution to our team. Feel free to contact us; we would be happy to explore the possibilities.
